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Monday, May 8, 2017

Russian draft on de-escalation zones in Syria

Recalling
all its previous resolutions and Presidential Statements on the
situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, in particular its resolutions
2254 (2015), 2268 (2016) and 2336 (2016), and the Geneva Communiqué
of 30 June 2012,

Reaffirming
its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, and to the
purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and
stressing
the need for all parties to the political process to adhere to
Syria's unity, independence, territorial integrity, and non-sectarian
character, to ensuring continuity of governmental institutions, to
protecting the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or
religious denomination,

Noting
the mediation efforts undertaken by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the
Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey and to consolidate the
ceasefire in the Syrian Arab Republic, and the launching of the
Astana process between the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and
the armed opposition groups,

Appreciating
the contribution to the Astana process by the Special Envoy of the
United Nations Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura, and
observers from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United States
of America,

1. Welcomes
the Memorandum on the creation of
de-escalation
areas in the Syrian Arab Republic, signed in Astana on May 4, 2017
(Annex);

2. Calls
on
all parties to the conflict in Syria to fully implement the ceasefire
established on 29 December 2016 and to abide by the provisions of the
Memorandum on the creation of de-escalation areas in the Syrian Arab
Republic;

3. Calls
on
all Member States to contribute in good faith to the implementation
of the Memorandum on the creation of de-escalation areas in the
Syrian Arab Republic;

4. Decides
to remain seized of the matter.

Annex

Memorandumon
the creation of de-escalation areas in the Syrian Arab Republic

The
Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of
Turkey, as guarantors of the observance of the ceasefire regime in
the Syrian Arab Republic (hereinafter referred to as “Guarantors”):

- guided
by the provisions of UNSC resolution 2254 (2015);

- reaffirming
their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic;

- expressing
their determination to decrease the level of military tensions and to
provide for the security of civilians in the Syrian Arab Republic,

have
agreed on the following.

1. the
following de-escalation areas shall be created with the aim to put a
prompt end to violence, improve the humanitarian situation and create
favorable conditions to advance political settlement of the conflict
in the Syrian Arab Republic:

The
creation of the de-escalation areas and security zones is a temporary
measure, the duration of which will initially be 6 months and will be
automatically extended on the basis of consensus of the Guarantors.

2. Within
the lines of the de-escalation areas:

hostilities
between, the conflicting parties (the government of the Syrian Arab
Republic and the armed opposition groups that have joined and will
join the ceasefire regime) with the use of any kinds of weapons,
including aerial assets, shall be ceased;

rapid,
safe and unhindered humanitarian access shall be provided;

conditions
to deliver medical aid to local population and to meet basic needs
of civilians shall be created;

conditions
for the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally
displaced persons shall be created.

3. Along
the lines of the de-escalation areas, security zones shall be
established in order to prevent incidents and military confrontations
between the conflicting parties.

4. The
security zones shall include:

- Checkpoints
to ensure unhindered movement of unarmed civilians and delivery of
humanitarian assistance as well as to facilitate economic activities;

- Observation
posts to ensure compliance with the provisions of the ceasefire
regime.

The
functioning of the checkpoints and observation posts as well as the
administration of the security zones shall be ensured by the forces
of the Guarantors by consensus. Third parties might be deployed, if
necessary, by consensus of the Guarantors.

5. The
Guarantors shall:

take
all necessary measures to ensure the fulfillment by the conflicting
parties of the ceasefire regime;

take
all necessary measures to continue the fight against DAESH/ISIL,
Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and
entities associated with Al-Qaeda or DAESH/ISIL as designated by the
UN Security Council within and outside the de-escalation areas;

continue
efforts to include in the ceasefire regime armed opposition groups
that have not yet joined the ceasefire regime.

6. The
Guarantors shall in 2 weeks after signing the Memorandum form a Joint
working group on de-escalation (hereinafter referred to as the “Joint
Working Group”) composed of their authorized representatives in
order to delineate the lines of the de-escalation areas and security
zones as well as to resolve other operational and technical issues
related to the implementation of the Memorandum.

The
Guarantors shall take steps to complete by 4 June 2017 the
preparation of the maps of the de-escalation areas and security zones
and to separate the armed opposition groups from the terrorist groups
mentioned in para. 5 of the Memorandum.

The
Joint Working Group shall prepare by the above-mentioned date the
maps of the de-escalation areas and security zones to be agreed by
consensus of the Guarantors as well as the draft Regulation of the
Joint Working Group.

The
Joint Working Group shall report on its activities to the high-level
international meetings on Syria held in Astana.

The
present Memorandum enters into force the next day after its signing.

Done
in Astana, 4 May 2017 in three copies in English, having equal legal
force.